Two Former Champions Collide as Oklahoma City Hosts Its First UFC Card in Nine Years
The UFC touches down in Oklahoma for the first time since 2017, and it’s brought a genuine grudge-worthy main event with it. Dricus du Plessis and Kamaru Usman headline UFC Fight Night 281 at the Paycom Center on Saturday, July 18, in a middleweight clash that carries real title implications for whoever walks away with their hand raised.
Between them, du Plessis and Usman have lost just seven fights across 51 professional bouts — a staggering collective résumé that makes this one of the more compelling non-title headliners the promotion has put together this year.
Why This Fight Matters More Than a Typical Number-One Contender Bout
Du Plessis hasn’t competed since surrendering the UFC middleweight title to Khamzat Chimaev, a defeat that snapped a nine-fight unbeaten run inside the octagon. Before that stoppage loss, the South African had defended his belt against Israel Adesanya and twice against Sean Strickland — the man who now sits on the middleweight throne after stunning Chimaev at UFC 328 back in May.
Usman arrives in very different circumstances. After a three-fight skid that followed his dominant reign atop the welterweight division — a run that included a 15-0 UFC start — ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ snapped his two-year layoff in emphatic fashion, flattening Joaquin Buckley as a significant underdog in the UFC Atlanta main event.
Du Plessis explained the appeal of the matchup bluntly, pointing to Usman’s résumé at 170lbs and his history against the current middleweight elite. Usman, for his part, has his sights set further afield — a win over du Plessis would put him firmly back in the conversation for a shot at Islam Makhachev‘s welterweight title.
UFC Oklahoma City: Start Times
UFC Fight Night: Du Plessis vs Usman takes place on Saturday, July 18, with the action split across three broadcast windows for UK viewers:
| Card Segment | UK Time (Sun) | US Eastern | US Pacific |
|---|---|---|---|
| Preliminary card | 10:00pm BST (Sat) | 5:00pm ET | 2:00pm PT |
| Main card | 1:00am BST | 8:00pm ET (Sat) | 5:00pm PT (Sat) |
| Du Plessis vs Usman (est.) | 3:00am BST | 10:00pm ET | 7:00pm PT |
Where to Watch Du Plessis vs Usman
Coverage varies significantly by territory, and a couple of regions have more than one listed option — worth double-checking with your local provider closer to fight night.
| Region | Broadcaster |
|---|---|
| UK & Ireland | TNT Sports and HBO Max (main card); UFC Fight Pass (prelims) |
| United States | Paramount+ (full card) |
| Australia | Paramount+ |
| Latin America (incl. Brazil) | Paramount+ |
| Germany | DAZN |
| France | RMC Sport |
| Spain | Max + Deportes |
talkSPORT.com will carry live updates and reaction throughout the card, right through to the final horn of the du Plessis-Usman headliner.
Full UFC Oklahoma City Fight Card
Main Card
- MAIN EVENT: Dricus du Plessis vs Kamaru Usman — Middleweight
- Co-main: Jared Cannonier vs Christian Leroy Duncan — Middleweight
- Chase Hooper vs Mitch Ramirez — Lightweight
- Tabatha Ricci vs Fatima Kline — Women’s Strawweight
- Tommy McMillen vs Alberto Montes — Featherweight
Preliminary Card
- Austin Bashi vs Jose Delgado — Featherweight
- Jean-Paul Lebosnoyani vs Seokhyeon Ko — Welterweight
- Levi Rodrigues vs Felipe Franco — Light Heavyweight
- Alden Coria vs Stewart Nicoll — Flyweight
- RJ Harris vs Alvin Hines — Heavyweight
- Anna Melisano vs Dione Barbosa — Women’s Flyweight
What’s at Stake for the Winner
A statement win here does different things for each man. For du Plessis, it’s a direct route back into the title picture against Strickland, a rival he already owns two victories over. For Usman, the calculus points elsewhere entirely — a return to 170lbs and a possible collision course with Makhachev’s welterweight crown.
Either way, Oklahoma City is set to host a genuinely consequential night of fights, and with the division’s two biggest storylines both feeding off this result, the winner won’t be waiting long for their next opportunity at gold.